Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 314: A visitor

Braelyn’s POV

My feet barely touched the ground as they dragged me out of the cell down the aisle then through the heavy metal down. My legs scrubbed the floor, Their footsteps were quick as they rushed down the corridor. The sensor light flickered over us.

My body felt like dead weight between them. Every step sent a dull ache through my legs, but I didn’t have the strength to resist. Even if I tried, it would be pointless.

No one explained anything the entire way. My mind kept racing as I tried to figure out who had come for me.

The metal doors opened one after another as we passed through the underground maze. The harsh lights continued to flicker above, making my head throb. My thoughts were still foggy from sleep and the shock of the cold water they had splashed on my face.

I had no idea what was happening.

Eventually we reached the last door. One of the guards punched in the code and the electric gate slid open with a sharp beep. Cool air rushed inside as we stepped out of the underground hallway.

They dragged me along the same rough path through the cave. My bare feet scraped against the uneven ground, but I barely felt the pain anymore. My body was too weak to react.

The moment we stepped out of the cave, I froze. Blinding sunlight poured down on us.

I squeezed my eyes shut instantly as the brightness burned against my vision. My head spun and for a moment I thought I might collapse right there. I hadn’t seen this much natural light in what felt like forever. The warmth of the sun on my skin felt unreal.

When my eyes slowly adjusted, I noticed a small black car waiting a few meters away.

They didn’t make me walk this time. One of the guards opened the back door and shoved me inside. My body slumped against the seat as soon as I landed. The door slammed shut behind me after the warden joined me at the back.

The engine started almost immediately.

The car rolled forward, tires crunching against rocky path as we drove deeper through the woods. I leaned my head back against the seat, staring out the window with dull curiosity. I had never realized the trail behind the mansion was motorable. Last time they forced me to walk this entire trail as punishment.

Tall trees surrounded the path on both sides, their branches forming a dark canopy overhead. My warden sat beside me in the back seat. He looked relaxed as always, one arm resting casually against the door. After a moment he leaned slightly toward me and lowered his voice.

"You are lucky today, princess," he murmured quietly. My frown deepened. The word made something twist in my chest. My mind immediately went to one person. Lucien?

Was he here for me?

The thought made my stomach tighten with a strange mixture of emotions. Part of me felt nervous just imagining seeing him again. After everything that happened, after I tried to run away, I had no idea what his reaction would be. Lucien was not the kind of man who forgave betrayal easily.

But another part of me felt relieved.

Even if he was furious with me, it would still mean I was leaving that underground prison behind. Anything was better than that suffocating darkness.

The car turned a corner and the trees slowly began to thin out. Soon the mansion came into view.

Even from a distance it looked imposing. The gothic style architecture rose above the trees like something pulled straight from a dark fairytale. Tall stone walls, towering windows, and black iron balconies gave it an intimidating presence that made my stomach tighten.

Yelena’s home looked less like a residence and more like a fortress. The car drove around the side of the building and finally came to a stop near the back entrance.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, the door was pulled open and I was dragged out again. My legs wobbled beneath me as I tried to stand upright.

A small group of maids were already waiting near the entrance. There were about 3 of them standing at the entrance. At the front stood an elderly woman with sharp blue eyes and perfectly pinned hair.

Her uniform was different from the others. The fabric looked more refined and the cut was slightly more formal. I didn’t need anyone to explain who she was.

She was clearly the head maid. Her cold gaze swept over me from head to toe.

For a brief second I became painfully aware of how terrible I must look. My hair was tangled, my clothes were wrinkled and dirty, and my face probably still carried the marks of exhaustion and hunger.

She turned toward the other maids and spoke sharply in Russian. "Privedite yeye v poryadok. Ona dolzhna vyglyadet predstavitelno."

(Make her presentable. She must look respectable.)

The maids immediately moved forward. Two of them grabbed my arms, their grip was firm. The head maid walked closer until she was standing right in front of me. Her expression remained completely indifferent.

"Follow them quietly," she said coldly. "Do not make a scene if you like yourself." she warned.

I swallowed the protest that almost escaped my lips. At this point I had learned that resistance rarely worked in my favor.

They led me through the back entrance and into the mansion.

The sudden shift from the dark woods into the polished interior made me feel strangely out of place. The floors were made of glossy marble that reflected the light from the chandeliers above. Elegant paintings lined the walls and expensive antique furniture filled the hallways.

Everything looked luxurious and perfectly maintained. And there I was, looking like someone dragged straight out of a prison.

The contrast made me painfully aware of how far I had fallen. We climbed a set of wide stairs before turning down another hallway. The maids walked quickly, almost dragging me along as we moved deeper into the mansion.

Eventually they stopped in front of a large wooden door. One of them pushed it open and guided me inside.

The room was enormous. Soft cream colored walls, tall windows, and an elegant four poster bed filled the space. A thick rug covered most of the wooden floor and a crystal chandelier hung above the center of the room.

For a moment I simply stared, unable to process the sudden change in environment. Was it really lucien that came for me?

The head maid gestured toward a nearby door. "That is the bathroom," she said firmly. "You will wash yourself immediately."

One of the maids stepped forward and gently pushed me toward it. "Do not take too long," she added. "You will be needed soon." she commanded then leaned against the door staring at me. Waiting for me to shower.

"Go on don’t waste my time.."